INTRODUCTION:
A job seeker feels they didn’t perform well during a telephone interview one week ago. So, they asked if they should bother following up with the employer.
RESPONSE:
Follow-up after any job interview is essential. Even if you did not perform as well as you had hoped, you still follow up with the employer. You should follow-up within twenty (24) hours of the interview. Doing so later could further impact your chances of being selected.
REASONS FOR FOLLOW-UP:
Reasons why you should follow up after every interview are: 1) The interviewers’ assessment of your performance; 2) Other candidates may not follow-up; 3) A Chance to offer additional information; 4) Future opportunities with the organization.
The Interviewer’s Assessment of Your Performance:
Don’t count yourself out yet. Sometimes job candidates perform better during an interview than they think they did. So, the interviewer’s assessment of your performance is what really matters. You may you may have provided key information to the interviewer to justify a little more flexibility in determining acceptable performance. This can be especially true for hard-to-fill positions. So, they may give a less-experienced candidate a chance to develop more professionally on the job.
Other candidates’ may not follow-up:
Interview follow-up is a basic expectation. It is the candidate’s opportunity to thank the interviewer for their consideration and inviting them to interview; however, everyone is not well-versed on proper interview etiquette. So, your decision to follow-up after the interview shows the interviewer that you have done your homework on proper interview strategy and adhere to it. This could positively impress the interviewer and cause them to consider you more-highly.
A Chance to offer additional information:
Everyone sometimes forgets to share all of their job-related qualifications during an interview. So, you can use your after interview follow-up to share that additional insight with the interviewer. Your follow-up message can further convey your level of interest in the opportunity. You could write something like, “In my nervousness, I forgot to share that, for the past year, I have also performed this aspect of the job, which I really enjoy. So, I am happy that this position offers the opportunity to perform this duty more often.” See, how easy it is to weave that fact into your thank you?
There Could Be Future Opportunities with the Employer
After interview follow-up shows personal and professional maturity. Even though your performance was not the best, you still reconnected with the interviewer. I recently extended an offer to a candidate who interviewed for a position. Although he was not the selected candidate, the selection committee thought his skill set would be beneficial for a hard-to-fill vacancy on their team. So, he applied and emerged as the top candidate for that opportunity.
CONCLUSION:
Job seekers remember, you must adhere to the interview process “rules of engagement.” That means, follow-up sooner rather than later, because later could cost you valuable continued consideration. Even if your interview performance was lack-luster, follow-up. Send a short, professional thank you, and if necessary, add or reemphasize a fact about your qualifications. This strategy could elevate you from possible to probable continued consideration. What you do have to lose? Absolutely nothing!
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Job Search Success to You! Go Get Your New Job!
Be blessed.
